Snow Removal Accessory for a Vehicle and Method of Use Thereof

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a snow removal accessory and method of use thereof for a vehicle. The accessory has a translation assembly for rotating an axle through action upon a lever connected via the axle to a leg and a wheel. The axle moves under the influence of an extendible cylinder moving from a retracted configuration to an extracted configuration until the wheel and ultimately the accessory is moved from an operative configuration in contact with the ground to a transport configuration where the wheels only are in contact with the ground.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a snow removal accessory for a vehicle and method of use thereof for raising a front snow removal collector during transport, and more specifically, to an onboard translation assembly for moving down a wheel to contact a surface and lift the snow collector when the vehicle must transport the snow removal accessory between uses.

BACKGROUND

Snow or other pulverized debris accumulates over flat surfaces. Ashes cover parking lots near chimneys and smoke stacks, sand forms dunes alongside beach highways, and snow falls in cold climates over roads and other useful surfaces. Municipalities often employ snow plows manned by trained crews to remove snow or other pulverized debris from public areas, schools, etc. Within the scope of this disclosure, the term “snow” is broadly construed to include, in addition to snow and ice, any pulverized or non-pulverized element, powder, small piece, or even larger pieces that can be collected, pushed, and plowed using known snow removal equipment in the marketplace without regard to the location where such materials collect over flat surfaces.

Plows are often used to clear snow from large, flat surfaces. Plows are generally curved metal shields pushed by vehicles, often at a forward angle where a bottom raking surface lifts ice or snow from the ground and uses the velocity of the vehicle to project the raked snow and ice outwardly to a new location where it can be stored or further raked until the desired surface is free of snow. Graders are large industrial equipment having as a primary function the operation of a large plow, often located below the center of gravity and below the operator's cabin. Smaller vehicles operating plows include dump trucks, large trucks, tractors, backhoes, and sidewalk movers, or even smaller vehicles such as pick-up trucks, or all terrain vehicles (ATVs). One preferred embodiment of this disclosure is directed to a snow removal accessory and method of use thereof that can be mounted on an ATV, but his disclosure is not so limited.

Plowing is made difficult by changing environmental factors such as surface condition, temperature, road condition, etc. First, snow and ice can accumulate and block mechanisms associated with the snow plow during use. Consequently, simplified, weatherproof mechanisms are preferred. Second, roads have bumps and many other asperities, snow accumulates over sidewalks, around telephone poles, and between obstacles such as cars. Heavy plows are stronger and can rake ice more easily from wide surfaces, but these models can damage the surface upon which they are used and often lack maneuverability. Smaller plows mounted on light transport vehicles, while more maneuverable, can bounce up and down from the surface as the vehicle travels over uneven surfaces or at greater speeds. For this reason, heavy plows are preferred.

Plows on small vehicles are often mounted one or two feet in front of the vehicle's front bumper. This forward mass can destabilize the vehicle when the plow is lifted from the ground. A front-mounted plow moves the center of gravity of the vehicle forward past the location where wheel traction and vehicle stability are optimal. As a consequence, small vehicles with front-mounted plows in a transport configuration become unstable at high speeds.

Known models of snow removal accessories on small vehicles attach to the front of the vehicle or via a longitudinal frame slid between the wheels on the bottom frame of the vehicle. This system dispenses the weight of the snow collector to the front of the frame and even creates an upward force on the back of the vehicle through the longitudinal frame. All known systems, such as those employing frontal winches on the vehicle, one or a plurality of cables, bars, springs, or even rotating and pivoting plows, fail to distribute the weight of the snow plow back on the surface. Although many of these methods and devices are able to perform their intended functions in a workmanlike manner, none of them solve all of the drawbacks described above.

What is needed is a snow removal accessory and method of use thereof that can be installed on a small vehicle and that can be configured to prevent a change in the center of gravity of a transport vehicle in a transport configuration.

SUMMARY

In one principal aspect, this disclosure relates to a snow removal accessory and method of use thereof for a vehicle. The accessory may have a translation assembly for rotating an axle through action upon a lever connected via the axle to a leg and a wheel. The axle moves under the influence of an extendible cylinder moving from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration until the wheel and ultimately the accessory is moved from an operative configuration in contact with the ground to a transport configuration where the wheels only are in contact with the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the snow removal accessory according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a transport configuration (i.e., with wheels down).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the snow removal accessory of FIG. 1 in the operative configuration (i.e., with wheels up) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a close-up perspective view of the translation assembly as part of the snow removal accessory shown in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective view of the translation assembly as part of the snow removal accessory shown in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the snow removal accessory shown in FIG. 1 with dashed lines showing the operative configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the snow removal accessory shown in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principles disclosed herein, reference is now made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language is used to describe the same. It is nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is hereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and such further applications of the principles disclosed and illustrated herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates.

FIGS. 1 and 3 are perspective views of the snow removal accessory 100 with wheels 9 lowered against a surface such as the ground or any other surface where snow or other debris must be removed. As a result of the wheels 9 touching the ground, the snow collector 1 is raised from the ground in a transport configuration. In one embodiment, the angular rotation of the axle 12 between the operative configuration and the transport configuration is about 15 to 25 degrees. FIGS. 2 and 4 are views of the snow removal accessory 100 where the wheels 9 have been raised and the bottom edge of the snow collector 1 touches the ground in an operative configuration. FIG. 5 shows both a superposition of both of these configurations, the transport configuration shown in solid lines and the operative configuration shown with dashed lines. The wheels 9 are located below the center of gravity of the snow removal accessory 100 and when in the transport configuration holds the weight of the accessory 100. A transport vehicle (not shown but generally described with respect to this disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 7,093,380) pushing the snow removal accessory 100 in the transport configuration does not need to lift the full weight of the accessory 100 from the ground since part of the weight in the transport configuration rests on the wheels 9.

The engine of the accessory 16 as shown includes a fuel tank 26 and a motor 25 to provide a driving force for rotation blades 83 as shown in FIG. 6. The blades 83 collect or enter in contact with the snow when the accessory 100 is pushed forward. The snow is then directed through the outlet 2 in a selected orientation by the operator of the accessory 100 through the manual use of a directional lever 106 as is known in the art. While a manual lever is shown, other activation and deactivation such as switches, contacts, relays, and the like are contemplated. While one type of blade 83, engine 16, and outlet 2 are shown, the use of any known removal, extraction, and driving technique known in the art by one of ordinary skill is contemplated.

The snow removal accessory 100 includes a longitudinal frame 3 that made of hollow rectangular tubes connected to define a V shape at one end and held in place by a holding plate 84 to form a support section 86 for the engine 16 and a translation assembly 95. The frame 3 includes a grasping end 4 that made of hollow rectangular tubes bent to attach below a vehicle (not shown for clarity). The frame 3 located between the support section 86 and the grasping end 4 and is secured to a vehicle. The frame 3 is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle between the wheels. The grasping end 4 also includes a lock bolt attachment 5 to attach the grasping end 4 to a mating attachment located at the back of the vehicle, generally in the rear bumper area. This technology is contemplated for snow plows that are directional and where the snow is ultimately deflected to one side of the vehicle instead of being blown out through an outlet 2. The use of other types of structural elements beside hollow rectangular tubes is also contemplated, such as pipes, tubes, profiles, or bars.

The snow collector 1 is located at an operating end 87 opposite the grasping end 4 on the longitudinal frame 3. The snow collector 1 removes snow (not shown) by pushing the snow collector 1 over a surface using a vehicle. Snow enters the snow collector 1 and may be scooped back and up through the snow outlet 2 by the blades 83. The snow collector 1 has lateral sides 90 on the embodiment as shown, and if the collector 1 is placed at deviated angle from the alignment of the longitudinal frame 3, and the sides 90 are removed, the snow is pushed sideways past the vehicle. The collector 1 is connected to the operating end 87 by support bars 27.

An axle 12 is pivotally connected to supports 17 at the support section 86 of the frame 3 for movement of the accessory 100 from an operative configuration to a transport configuration shown by FIGS. 1, and 2 respectively by enabling and energizing a translation assembly 95 via a switch. The axle 12 is set up on supports 17 with an open circular notch 20 for allowing the pivot of the axle 12 within the circular notch 20. C shaped plates 21 are used to secure the axle 12 to the supports 17.

A leg 11, made of a bent rectangular metal bar is connected to the axle 12 at a proximate end 22 and is connected to a wheel 9 at a distal end 10 for movably engaging the surface when the axe 12 is rotated from the operative configuration to the transport configuration as shown in FIGS. 2, and 1 respectively. In one embodiment, the wheel 9 is a caster wheel. In a preferred embodiment, the leg 11 is made of two parallel plates or bent rectangular metal bars connected to each other each having a proximate end 22 connected to the axle 12 and a distal end 10 connected to the wheel 9. While one type of leg 11 is shown, the use of a mechanical element of any known geometry capable of holding the weight of the accessory 100 during transportation is contemplated.

To rotate the axle 12 and ultimately the leg 11, a lever 31 is connected at a first end 93 to the axle 12 adjacent the leg 11 and at a second end 94 to a translation assembly 95. In one embodiment, the translation assembly 95 locks in placed via a lock pin 96. While one method of fixation of a pivoting axle 12 is shown, the use of any rotation system, including but not limited to bearing sets, multisegment axles, interlocked tubes, or the like is also contemplated.

The translation assembly 95 includes an extendible cylinder 15, an actuator drive 14 connected to the longitudinal frame 3 at the support section 86, and a mechanism, such as a mounted switch located on the handlebars to energize the actuator drive 14. The mechanism, or the switch enables the actuator drive 14 to actuate the extendible cylinder 15 from a retracted configuration to an extracted configuration as best shown in FIG. 5 by pivoting the lever 31 and the axle between the operative configuration and the transport configuration.

To better maneuver the accessory 100 using a vehicle, a positioner 101 aligns the accessory with the vehicle and prevents an unfortunate rotation or translation around the gasping end 4 that can result in the accessory hitting one of the front wheels of the vehicle. The front mount area 102 at the front end portion of the longitudinal frame 3 is nested in an open nesting plate 103 at the midportion of a traverse frame member 104 pivotally connected at both opposed ends to the frame of the vehicle in the region below the wheels of the vehicle.

The front mount area 102 is free to move vertically and to a limited extent horizontally in the nesting plate 103 but is generally confined horizontally while not connected. For example, if the snow collector 1 strikes a hard obstacle, the accessory 100 may be forced upwards and sideways. Part of the upwards force is absorbed as potential energy when the snow collector is allowed to move up before it falls back down under its own weight. The nesting plates 103 absorb some of the lateral movement energy and allow for some slight lateral movement. In the case of a very strong force, the holder 101 can be deformed to prevent damage to the holding vehicle. The nesting plates 103 as shown are located on each side of the hollow rectangular tube used as the longitudinal frame 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, a manual operation plate 105 is used to house a directional lever 106 and other levers, including, for example lever 8 to change the trajectory of the debris trough the snow outlet 2. Another lever 7 enables or disables the rotating blades 83. A command pipe 6 connects the manual operation plate 105 with the accessory 100. While a manual operation system is shown, the use of any electronic or manually activated switches, levers, buttons, or commands either on the accessory 100 or remotely on the transport vehicle (not shown), that conform with safety requirements is contemplated.

In a preferred embodiment, the accessory includes two legs 11 connected to the axle 12 at opposite ends, and each leg 11 connected to a different wheel 9 at a distal end 10 for movably engaging the surface when the axle 12 is in the transport configuration. A lever 31 is connected to the axle 12 at an end. The use of two levers 31 and two translation assemblies 95 each of the pair located on each side of the engine 16 is also contemplated and shown. The use of a translation assembly 95 connected and acting directly upon the leg 11 is also contemplated.

Stemming from the new snow removal accessory 100 and the new translation assembly 95, a novel method of transforming a snow removal accessory 100 from a snow removal mode to a transportation mode is contemplated. In a first step, the accessory 100 is transported to a location in a transport configuration and a command switch is activated to lift the snow collector 1 from the ground by extending the wheels 9 down against the surface. In a subsequent step, the command switch is activated and the snow collector 1 is then lowered against the ground by retracting the wheels 9 upwards away from the surface.

It is understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of some examples and embodiments of the present invention and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure made herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention but to provide sufficient disclosure to one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention without undue burden. 

1. A snow removal accessory, comprising: a longitudinal frame with a grasping end, an operating end, and a support section between the grasping end and the operating end; a snow collector connected to the operating end for removing snow by horizontal displacement of the snow collector over a surface; an axle rotationally connected to the support section for movement between an operative configuration and a transport configuration; a leg connected to the axle at a proximate end and having a wheel at a distal end for movably engaging the surface when the axe is in transport configuration; and a lever connected at a first end to the axle adjacent the leg and at a second end to a translation assembly including an extendible cylinder, an actuator drive connected to the longitudinal frame, and a mechanism to energize the drive, wherein the mechanism enables the drive to actuate the extendible cylinder from a retracted configuration to an extracted configuration to pivot the lever, and the axle between the operative configuration where the accessory is lowered and the transport configuration where the accessory is raised.
 2. The snow removal accessory of claim 1, where the grasping end is mounted to a vehicle.
 3. The snow removal accessory of claim 2, wherein the grasping end includes a back mount at a rear end portion pivotally connected to a back portion of the vehicle, and a front mount area at the front end portion nested in an open nesting plate at the midportion of a traverse frame member pivotally connected at both opposed ends to the frame of the vehicle, wherein the front mount area is free to move vertically in the nesting plate but is confined horizontally by the nesting plate.
 4. The snow removal accessory of claim 1, wherein the snow collector further comprises a snow outlet in communication with a snow blower having a directional end.
 5. The snow removal accessory of claim 1, wherein the wheel is a caster wheel.
 6. The snow removal accessory of claim 4, wherein the snow outlet is connected to a directional lever attached to a manual operation plate.
 7. The snow removal accessory of claim 1, wherein the leg is made of two parallel plates, each having a proximate end connected to the axle and a distal end connected to the wheel.
 8. The snow removal accessory of claim 1, wherein the angular rotation of the axle between the operative configuration and the transport configuration is about 15 to 25 degrees.
 9. The snow removal accessory of claim 1, further comprising two legs, each connected to the axle at opposite ends, and each leg having a wheel at a distal end for movably engaging the surface when the axle is in transport configuration and a lever connected to the axle at one end.
 10. A translation assembly for a snow removal accessory having a longitudinal frame, at least a wheel connected via a leg to a rotating axle secured to the frame, the assembly comprising: a lever connected to the axle at a first end adjacent the leg and at a second end to an extendible cylinder, an actuator drive connected to the longitudinal frame, and a mechanism to energize the actuator drive, wherein the mechanism enables the actuator drive to actuate the extendible cylinder from a retracted configuration to an extracted configuration to pivot the lever and the axle between an operative configuration and a transport configuration.
 11. The translation assembly for a snow removal accessory of claim 10, wherein the wheel is a caster wheel.
 12. The translation assembly for a snow removal accessory of claim 10, wherein the leg is made of two parallel plates, each having a proximate end connected to the axle and a distant end connected to the wheel.
 13. The translation assembly for a snow removal accessory of claim 10, wherein the angular rotation of the axis between the operative configuration and the transport configuration is about 15 to 25 degrees.
 14. The translation assembly for a snow removal accessory of claim 10, further comprising two legs each connected to the axle at opposite ends, and each leg having a wheel at a distal end for movably engaging the surface when the axle is in transport configuration, and two levers each connected to the axle at the opposite ends.
 15. The translation assembly for a snow removal accessory of claim 10, wherein the axle is pivotally attached to the longitudinal frame by a C-shaped plate.
 16. A method of transforming a snow removal accessory from an operative configuration to a transportation configuration, comprising the steps of: transporting a snow removal accessory having an operative configuration and a transport configuration in the transportation mode to a location, the accessory comprising a longitudinal frame with a grasping end, an operating end, and a support section between the grasping end and the operating end, a snow collector connected to the operating end, an axle rotationally connected to the support section for movement between an operative configuration and a transport configuration, a leg connected to the axle at a proximal end and having a wheel at a distal end for movably engaging the surface when the axle is in transport configuration, and a lever connected at a first end to the axle adjacent the leg and at a second end to a translation assembly including an extendible cylinder, an actuator drive connected to the longitudinal frame, and a switch to energize the actuator drive, wherein the switch enables the actuator drive to actuate the extendible cylinder from a retracted configuration to an extracted configuration to pivot the lever and the axle between the operative configuration and the transport configuration; and activating a switch for energizing the actuator drive via the mechanism to extract the extendible cylinder from the retracted configuration to an extracted configuration until the snow collector contacts the surface and the wheel lifts from the surface. 